Akha village - |
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ชาวเขา |
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There are six major hill tribe minorities in Northern Thailand,
and within some of these are subgroups.
Probably the
most visible and colorful are the Akha, known as “Igaw” in Thai,
who are noted for the large silver coined headdresses worn by
their women. The Akha are thought to have descended from Tibet
and they inhabit the upper reaches of Thailand’s highest
mountains. They are still
the most traditional ethnic group, with strong animist beliefs,
village gates guarded by spirit guardians. They used to be opium
farmers but opium has since been replaced with more legal and
sustainable crops such as tea. The area around Doi Mae Salong,
Thailand’s highest village north of Chiang Rai, is famed for its
steep tea-leaf terrace plantations, and both the Akha and the
Lisu take part in large New Year celebrations up there.
The Lisu, who are also mountain dwellers, also descended from
Tibet; and can be recognized by their extremely colorful flowery
costumes and flat headdresses. Many Lisu speak Yunnanese, the
language of their northern neighbors, and along with the Akha
and Hmong, have managed to retain much of their traditions and
culture. The Lisu can be found in Mae Hong Son and Chiang Rai
provinces, and you can even learn Lisu weaving, music, and
shamanism skills by taking part in a homestay in the small
village of Nong Tong from this enterprising cultural immersion
program called Lisu Hill Tribe.
The Hmong (Meo in Thai)
are among the most vibrant ethnic minorities in Southeast Asia,
seen in Vietnam, Laos, China, and Thailand, with various
subgroups (Black Hmong, Green Hmong, Flower Hmong) being named
because of the bright embroidered outfits they wear. While most
ethnic minority groups live in homes built on stilts, the Hmong
build their homes without them, instead making dwellings right
on top of food storage cellars. One of the best integrated
ethnic groups into Thai society, the Hmong can be found in every
province across the north, and one of the best places to enjoy
Hmong village life is up around Mon Jam, a village up on a ridge
above Mae Rim and Chiang Mai, where there is a Royal Project
garden, fresh air, camping, charming restaurants overlooking the
valley, and Hmong villages stretching all across the surrounding
hills.
The Karen is Thailand’s largest hill tribe, with a
population of over 300,000, which is more than half of the
entire ethnic minority population in the country. They are also
separated into wide subgroups, and except for the aforementioned
“longneck” Karen, they are neither as colorful nor as visibly
apparent to outsiders. The Karen has the largest number of
converts to Christianity of any minority group as well. Many
Karen have settled in Thailand fleeing war and oppression along
the border in neighboring Myanmar, and it’s only more recently
that some of these areas have become peaceful and open to
tourism. A great spot to go trekking, escape from it all, and
learn about Karen culture is at the Karen Hill Tribe Lodge,
located well off the beaten track in the mountains northwest of
Chiang Mai.
Other hill tribe groups include the Lahu,
also known as Mussur. Their tribal name means “hunters,” gained
through their early prowess as hunters and trappers. With a
dialect close to Chinese, many Lahu have gone to Taiwan to work,
and they have done very well economically, and many now own
lychee plantations across Thailand’s north. The Yao, noted for
the beautiful large turbans and thick red neck wraps worn by the
women, are one of the only hill tribe groups that has a written
language, and they excel both as paper makers and in designing
farm tool instruments. The Yao population in Thailand is small
though, and they are more prevalent in northern Laos, Yunnan,
and northern Vietnam.
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Chiang Rai |
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District |
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Mae Sai |
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City |
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Pong Ngam |
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Local life |
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Opening time |
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N/A |
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Entry fee |
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Free |
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GPS : |
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20.35081 N |
99.826680 E |
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